Rounded contour pocket

ABSTRACT

A protective garment for a firefighter or emergency worker is provided. The protective garment includes a generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion such as a sleeve or pant leg. A pocket is affixed to the limb covering portion and includes a bottom portion having an inner margin with an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a protective garment such as for a firefighter or emergency worker, and in more particular applications, to a protective garment having pockets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly, a firefighter or an emergency worker wears a protective garment, such as a protective coat or protective coveralls, onto which is sewn an external pouch or pocket for holding a variety of objects, such as ropes, telecommunications devices and other objects. Additionally, the protective garment is often manufactured to protect the wearer from heat, flames, water, abrasion and other environmental factors. Such protective garments are often multi-layered and manufactured from such materials as Nomex® and Kevlar®. Therefore, the protective garment is oftentimes somewhat rigid because of the various layers and types of materials used.

Furthermore, pockets are oftentimes located on the limb covering portions of the protective garment. Specifically, the pockets may be located on pant legs and the sleeves of jackets and shirts. These limb covering portions are generally cylindrically shaped to conform to the wearer's limbs and avoid constricting movement. However, the pockets that are attached to the limb covering portions can deform the limb covering portion and/or themselves become deformed when worn by a user due to the materials and construction of the garment. Therefore, the pocket can also constrict the wearer's movement and/or lose usable space within the pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, a protective garment for a firefighter or emergency worker is provided. The protective garment includes a generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and a pocket located on the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion. The pocket includes a mouth and bottom portion. The bottom portion extends across the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and has an inner margin with an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion.

According to one form, a protective garment for a firefighter or emergency worker is provided. The protective garment includes a generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and a pocket. The pocket is located on the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and includes a mouth, a main body panel and a bottom portion. The bottom portion extends across the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and has an inner margin and an outer margin. The inner margin and the outer margin each have an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion. The inner margin is affixed to the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion. The outer margin is affixed to the main body panel.

In one form, the protective garment includes a closure adjacent the pocket mouth and is adapted to substantially close the pocket mouth.

In another form, the protective garment includes hook and loop fasteners affixed to the pocket and closure to releasably maintain the closure against the pocket.

According to one form, the closure includes an attachment margin having an unstressed shape that conforms to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion.

In one form, the limb covering portion is a jacket sleeve.

In another form, the limb covering portion is a pant leg.

According to one form, the pocket includes at least one side portion having an inner margin with a substantially straight shape.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a firefighter wearing protective garments wherein the pants include one embodiment of a pocket attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a protective jacket including a pocket attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a view of the pocket taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of a bottom portion of a pocket prior to attachment to a protective garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a firefighter 10 is shown wearing a protective garment 12. More specifically, the firefighter 10 is wearing two protective garments 12, a jacket 14 and coveralls or pants 16. Except as described herein, the garment 12 may be substantially similar to prior garments designed for firefighters and rescue workers, such as those manufactured and sold by Morning Pride Manufacturing, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio. Additionally, the general design and construction of such garments 12 is well known by those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the garments 12 may include a plurality of layers and/or liners. For example, the garment 12 may include a water-proof liner (not shown) as well as a thermal liner (now shown) which is ultimately covered by an outer layer 18. However, it should be understood that any number of liners and/or layers may be utilized with the protective garment 12, as understood by those skilled in the art.

Each of the jacket 14 and pants 16 have at least one limb covering portion 20. For example, the jacket 14 has sleeves 22 while the pants 16 have pant legs 24. The limb covering portions 20 are generally cylindrically shaped to enclose the wearer's limb and accommodate movement. It should be understood that the limb covering portions 20 may also include further structure not shown in the figures. Specifically, the limb covering portions 20 may also include elbow or knee pads as well as may have a slightly bent shapes to accommodate the wearer's joints and movements.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pants 16 include two pockets 30 located on the pant legs 24. It should be understood that any number of pockets may be included on the protective garment 12 as desired. Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the pocket 30 includes a mouth 32, a bottom portion 34, a main body panel 36 and side portions 38, thereby creating an interior space 40 to store objects. Furthermore, the pocket 30 may also include a closure 42 to cover the mouth 32.

The mouth 32 provides an access location to the interior space 40. The mouth 32 may take a variety of shapes as a result of the shape of the pocket 30 and protective garment 12. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the mouth 32 faces upwardly when the wearer is standing erect as shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ends of the bottom portion 34 near the side portions 38 are located vertically higher than the remainder of the bottom portion 34. However, it should be understood that the ends of the bottom portion 34 may also be aligned vertically with the remainder of the bottom portion 34.

In one embodiment, the bottom portion 34 includes an inner margin 44, an outer margin 46 and ports 48. The inner margin 44 is used to attach a portion of the pocket 30, via the bottom portion 34, to the garment 12. As best seen in FIG. 4, the inner margin 44 is curved or arced when unstressed to conform to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion 20. The shape of the inner margin 44 helps prevent the deformation of the limb covering portion 20 and/or pocket 30 when the garment 12 is worn. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the outer margin 46 is also curved or arced. The shape of the outer margin 46 may also help prevent the deformation of the limb covering portion 20 and/or pocket 30 when the garment 12 is worn. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the shape of the inner margin 44 and outer margin 46 helps maintain the shape of the pocket 30 as well as the interior space 40. Additionally, the optional ports 48 permit water and other small debris to exit through the bottom of the pocket 30.

While the embodiment illustrated in the figures has both an inner margin 44 and an outer margin 46, it should be understood that the bottom portion 34 may only have the inner margin 44 in some instances where the bottom portion 34 is integral with other portions of the pocket, such as the main body panel 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, the main body panel 36 and one of the side portions 38 are shown. In one embodiment, the main body panel 36 forms a majority of the pocket 30 and is utilized to help define the mouth 32. The side portions 38 include an inner margin 50. This inner margin 50 is used to attach a portion of the pocket 30 to the garment 12 via the side portions 38. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the inner margin 50 has a substantially straight shape. However, it should be understood that the inner margin 50 may also be curved or arced depending upon the placement and orientation of the pocket 30 on the garment 12.

While illustrated in this embodiment as having the bottom portion 34, main body panel 36 and side portions 38 as separate components affixed to one another, it should be understood that the bottom portion 34, main body panel 36 and the side portions 38 may take the form of a single integral piece of material. Similarly, in alternative embodiments, the main body panel 36 and the side portions 38 may take the form of a single piece of material, the main body panel 36 and the bottom portion 34 may take the form of a single piece of material and the bottom portion 34 and the side portions 38 may take the form of a single piece of material.

As described above, the pocket 30 may include the closure 42. The closure 42 may be affixed to the pocket 30 and/or the garment 12 via an inner margin 51. The inner margin 51, may also be curved or arced when unstressed to conform to the generally cylindrical shape of the garment 12. In one embodiment, the pocket 30 is openable and closable, and when opened, provides access to the pocket 30. The closure 42 is manually movable between a first position wherein the pocket 30 is open and the mouth 32 is accessible, and a second position wherein the pocket 30 is substantially closed. The closure 42 can be releasably maintained in the second position via the use of fasteners. One such suitable fastener is illustrated in FIG. 2 as a hook and loop type fastener 52. The hook and loop fastener 52 has a portion 54 of the fastener 52 located on the pocket 30 and a portion 56 of the fastener 52 located on the closure 42. It should be understood that other fasteners may also be used, such as snaps, buttons, zippers and the like.

The pocket 30, as well as the closure 42 may be made from a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the pocket 30 and the closure 42 are made from the same material as the outer layer 18 of the garment 12. These materials are well known by those skilled in the art and may include materials having thermal, abrasion and/or water resistance.

The pocket 30 may be assembled prior to being affixed to the garment 12. Alternatively, the pocket 30 may be assembled while it is affixed to the garment 12. Furthermore, the pocket 30 may be affixed to the garment prior to, during and/or after the garment 12 is assembled. The pocket 30 may be affixed to the garment in a variety of manners such as sewing, riveting and other methods known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the pocket 30 and closure 42 may be releasably affixed to the garment 12 such that the pocket 30 and closure 42 may be removed from the garment 12. In this manner, the pocket 30 and closure 42 may be affixed to the garment 12 via hook and loop fasteners (not shown) similar to the hook and loop fastener 52 described above.

While described above as being used with limb covering portions 20, it should be understood that the pocket 30 may also be utilized on other portions of the garment 12. The pocket 30 may be utilized on any generally cylindrically shaped portion of the garment, such as the main body portion of the garment. For example, the chest area and waist area of the protective garment 20 is generally cylindrically shaped and therefore, the pocket 30 may be located on these additional locations.

It should be appreciated that for all of the disclosed embodiments there are many possible modifications. Additionally, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein may be utilized with a variety of garments, such as jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, and other garments. 

1. A protective garment for a firefighter or emergency worker, the protective garment comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion; and, a pocket located on the generally cylindrically shaped covering portion, the pocket having a mouth and bottom portion, the bottom portion extending across the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and having an inner margin with an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion.
 2. The protective garment of claim 1 further comprising a closure adjacent the pocket mouth and adapted to substantially close the pocket mouth.
 3. The protective garment of claim 2 further comprising hook and loop fasteners affixed to the pocket and closure to releasably maintain the closure against the pocket.
 4. The protective garment of claim 2 wherein the closure includes an attachment margin having an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion.
 5. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein the limb covering portion is a jacket sleeve.
 6. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein the limb covering portion is a pant leg.
 7. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein the pocket includes at least one side portion having an inner margin with a substantially straight shape.
 8. A protective garment for a firefighter or emergency worker, the protective garment comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion; and, a pocket located on the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion, the pocket having a mouth, a main body panel and a bottom portion, the bottom portion extending across the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and having an inner margin and an outer margin, the inner margin and the outer margin each having an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion, the inner margin affixed to the generally cylindrically shaped limb covering portion and the outer margin affixed to the main body panel.
 9. The protective garment of claim 8 further comprising a closure adjacent the pocket mouth and adapted to substantially close the pocket mouth.
 10. The protective garment of claim 9 further comprising hook and loop fasteners affixed to the pocket and closure to releasably maintain the closure against the pocket.
 11. The protective garment of claim 9 wherein the closure includes an attachment margin having an unstressed shape conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of the limb covering portion.
 12. The protective garment of claim 8 wherein the limb covering portion is a jacket sleeve.
 13. The protective garment of claim 8 wherein the limb covering portion is a pant leg.
 14. The protective garment of claim 8 wherein the pocket includes at least one side portion having an inner margin with a substantially straight shape. 